Spills, muddy puddles and unexpected delays have a way of turning up exactly when the family is far from home. A small emergency box in the boot of the car turns these moments from a crisis into a minor inconvenience. It does not need to be elaborate. A few carefully chosen items, packed once and checked from time to time, are enough to help everyone through most little mishaps.
What goes into the box
The main contents are simple. A change of clothes for each child, including a jumper and a spare pair of socks, sits at the bottom. Wet wipes and a few paper towels handle sticky hands and spilt drinks. A blanket is useful for a cold journey or a picnic on a damp bank. A couple of plastic bags hold dirty clothes and wet shoes, so that the rest of the car stays clean.
A strong box with a lid works better than a loose bag, because it stays in one place and keeps the items dry. Choose a spot in the boot where it will not slide about, and make sure that everyone knows where it is. Children like helping to pack the box, and a child who has chosen the spare clothes is far more willing to wear them when the moment comes.
Every so often the box needs a quick check. Children grow, and a jumper that fitted last season may be too small now. The seasons change too: a woolly hat and gloves are welcome in autumn, while a sun hat matters in summer. Choose a fixed time, such as the start of each season, to take everything out, refresh what is needed and put it back tidily.
Agree who looks after the box, or let the job rotate between family members. When something is used, it is replaced at once, so that the box is never half empty when it is needed. A short note inside the lid, listing what should be there, makes the check quick. With this small habit in place, everyone travels with a little more calm, knowing that the essentials are already on board.
